The Viewpoint April/May 2017

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Viewpoint

Mountain View High School 2135 Mountain View Road Stafford, VA 22556

STUDENT NEWS Magazine MVHS VOLUME 11 ISSUE 8 April | may

Despite some changes to the coaching positions, girls soccer continues to do well. Read more on pages 8 and 9

Stop by the Athletics Department for Pricing Today!

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The Viewpoint APRIL|MAY2017 VOLUME XI ISSUE VIII

EDITORIAL When environmental issues are brought up in conversation, some people roll their eyes and sigh, while others launch into a long-winded speech about how society should be doing more to protect the environment. Whatever you believe, it’s clear America could do more. The United States isn’t the largest contributor to pollution and global warming, but it is one of the leaders. While it would be ridiculous to suggest we should only use environmentally friendly cars or that we shouldn’t use fossil fuels, there are many fields in which we could do better. Eighty-eight percent of American’s believe taking care of the environment is important according to the Green’s Industry Analysis of 2017, but only 52 percent believe that the government should be acting to take care of it.

Despite those numbers, the US government does have measures in place to care for the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oversees many

Managing Editors

of those measures. However, Trump’s new budget plan would cut the EPA by 31 percent, Trump also plans to repeal the Obama administration’s “Waters of the United States” rule within the Clean Water Act. Trump’s actions aren’t inherently wrong, with these changes, he hopes to create new jobs for American citizens in the coal mining industry, an industry left obsolete in the last decade with environmental reforms.

However, this shows that the environment is not the top priority to the United States government, which presents a new problem: how do we protect the environment but also protect the citizens of the United States?

The answer lies in finding a balance between the two, and not sacrificing the environment because it’s inconvenient to do otherwise. When that can happen, then the conversation of how to help the environment can truly start.

Hailey Bullis Morgan Ocetnik Social Media Editors

Lexi Strawder Abbey Whitehead Copy Editors

Leah Garza Reagan King

Photography Editor

Emilee Holmquist Extra Editor

Paige Doerfler Briefs Editor

Ruby Jackson Adviser

Trisha Strahl The Viewpoint is a cross-section of the news and opinions of the student body of Mountain View High School. It is a forum of expression published by aPrintis. Letters to the editorial board are welcome and should be submitted to rooms 303 or 311.

Feature Figure

Staff Writers

by Jenny Bullers

Jenny BUllers

Junior Riley Croce traveled to Denmark in February for a professional soccer team tryout.

Croce has been playing soccer for as long as he can remember and the professional league has always been a goal of his.

“I went to Denmark on a trial tryout for a small professional club,” said Croce. The club had a local tryout in Fairfax and Croce’s coach persuaded him to go. After the local tryout, the club recruited Croce.

It took two to three months for Croce and the club to get everything together and then he was sent on his way. “Overall, I think I got a lot better because the competition over there is better than it is here so I had to raise my level to compete with them,” said Croce.

Croce had practice every day and two games on the weekends while overseas; therefore, he was unable to sight-see as much as he had hoped. However, on his last day, he went to the center of Copenhagen and saw the capitol building and visited many small shops.

“The soccer is a lot slower here as opposed to the fast-paced play in Denmark,” said Croce. Being gone for three weeks, Croce

missed a lot of school and had to readjust to his original school routine.

“Some teachers were hard on me when I came back because I missed so much; I am still catching up,” said Croce.

“It was my first time flying and I was alone so I was definitely a little nervous and scared,” said Croce. Luckily, Croce got there safely without any complications and was able to compete in the sport he loves in a new environment.

“This experience was a great one and I would definitely do it again; it was probably the best experience of my life so far,” said Croce.

Croce heard back from the coaches regarding the tryout in Denmark and will be returning to Europe in the summer, more specifically Portugal and the Netherlands.

Croce is not entirely interested in playing soccer in college unless it is a strong Division 1 school. As of right now, his top school is VCU. If he does not play in college, he will continue to strictly train to pursue a career in a professional league or plan to stay in Europe for a longer period of time.

Jenny Bullers, Nicholas Chechak, Charlotte Hazard, Damien Veal, Austin Venable, Adam Skoloda, Sophie Perez Front Cover Hailey Bullis

2014-2016 Virginia High School League State Championship First Place Award Winner 2013, 2014, 2015 Free Lance-Star Best Over All Newspaper 2011 Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist 2011, 2010 and 2009 Virginia High School League First Place Award Winner

Mountain View High School 2135 Mountain View Rd. Stafford, VA 22556

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at mountain view

Board of Supervisors meeting

by Charlotte Hazard

James Stemple

School Board meeting

by Nick Chechak

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On April 4, 2017, the Stafford County Board of Supervisors held a meeting where they allowed public comment from residents on what organizations they wanted to be funded. Most of the residents were either volunteers at the organizations or work there.

Michelle Herrick, a volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters, came to speak at the meeting asking the board for $6,000. She explained how the organization paired up kids from low-income families with older, educated kids to influence them, help them with homework, and hopefully inspire them to do their best in life. Michelle Herrick said, “Spending time with a Big Brother or a Big Sister proves to help students develop skills, help grades, and help school attendance.”

Other organizations that came included the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank, Openhead (a program that helps low-income teenagers get jobs), the Seniors Visitors Program, and Empowerhouse. Two members of the Board of Directors Kathleen Harrington and Denny Fallon at Empowerhouse came to ask the board for $49,800. Empowerhouse supports survivors of domestic violence. The Board of Supervisors had a final meeting on April 18 to vote on the budget of where the money will go to. All of the speakers had their voice and the decision will be posted on the Stafford County website about what organizations will be funded and where the money will be going.

NHS induction ceremony

by Adam Skoloda The new inductees of National Honors Society were admitted into the program Thursday, April 6, 2017. The NHS is a club that colleges look for in well-rounded students. The audience, inductees, and current members showed the prestigiousness of the club with their dress and behavior.

The opening ceremony started with the inductees walking in two lines to the front of the auditorium to take seats in the front. President Leah Garza opened the ceremony with remarks from Dr. Stemple and the other leaders of the National Honors Society. They highlighted how important community service is and how dedicated some have been in the past in order to make the community a better place. They talked about members from the past who gave up their free time in order to serve their community.

Dr. Stemple said, “The National Honors Society is a great way to start building your resume.” It is a great program for college application.

The National Honors Society is an efficient club for students who have the grades and the time to serve the community in an effective way as stated by the leaders of the club. Most of the inductees were underclassmen with a few upperclassmen.

Next came a ceremony where all of the inductees walked across the stage to be inducted as a full member. There was a reception at the end where there was food and all of the members and their parents could socialize.

The induction ceremony was a professional ceremony to welcome inductees into an effective and rewarding program.

Months of heated deliberation came to an end at the Stafford County School Board meeting on March 28, as the school board’s members voted to approve a plan for the redistricting of the overcrowded Colonial Forge.

The debates began with a motion to review the two proposed redistricting options; Option A involved moving Shelton Shop, Holly Corner, and Lake Estates to Mountain View and Autumn Ridge and North Embrey Mill to North Stafford, while Option B involved moving Arbor Glen to North Stafford and retaining the existing zoning of Autumn Ridge for Colonial Forge. With Mr. Dewayne McOsker, Jr. of the George Washington District abstaining from the vote, a motion to remove the redistricting of Holly Corner from Option A failed to pass. However, a subsequent motion to pass Option A in its original form, moved by Ms. Patricia Healy of the Rock Hill District, passed, solidifying Option A as the county’s template for the redistricting of Colonial Forge. Despite opposing the eventual passage of Option A, Mr. Christopher Connelly of the Garrisonville District stated, “I think that we’ve seen through this process how bright some of the folks in our community are.”

Poetry Awareness

“Poetry is so powerful.

That’s why I love writing” - Elsa Vinso, junior Poetry is a universal language that anyone can use to express their thoughts in a unique, artistic way by Sophie Perez Artwork by Clare Johnson

Poetry began as a way for early civilizations to pass down their society’s past through generations and has evolved throughout history into a tool that people use to express their thoughts, experiences and beliefs. Despite the numerous changes poetry has gone through, it continues to serve one general purpose: to tell your personal story.

In modern day society, poetry is considered by many to be a form of art. Many popular authors base their poetic works around past experiences and things that they can personally relate to. A book of poems that has had a recent surge of popularity is “Milk and Honey” by Rupi Kaur. “It really moved me and changed my perspective on a lot of things,” said sophomore Jianna Rios. In this book Kaur talks about her life experiences and various lessons that she’s learned, which is a popular approach to poetry. “Typically when I write it’s fueled by whatever I’m feeling at the time. All my emotions get to come out on paper,” said Keala Kama, sophomore. In addition to being a way of sharing experiences, poetry is often used to express the authors innermost thoughts. When people write, they can say whatever they want and do so freely without the fear of judgment from others.

Poetry is very flexible in that there’s no limitations on what you can write about. Although writing about your thoughts and feelings may be the more popular version of poetry, writing about political and global issues is also a widely favored method amongst authors. If you’re not someone who has a highly regarded spot in the government, then there may be times where you feel like you don’t have a voice on issues that are important to you.

For some, poetry gives them the voice that they desire. The famous poet John Berryman used this style of poetry in several of his works such as one of his most famous pieces, “As a Kid I Believed In Democracy”. Poetry can also be used as a peaceful method of protesting. This form of writing has gained popularity with a variety of world events sparking people’s passion and need to be heard.

With the new age of online media and technology, some may argue that poetry is a dying art. Playwright Gwydion Suilebhan expressed her belief that modern day poetry is “new age blather or vague nonsense or gibberish” via his twitter account. Even though we as a society depend heavily on outlets like social media and news platforms for entertainment, poetry remains an original way to communicate and tell stories in our own unique way and will continue to hold a special place in many people’s hearts.

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Two acclaimed artists return with new full-length albums

April Music Reviews by Nick Chechak Freddie Gibbs

Mastodon

The past few years have not been easy for Indiana’s Freddie Gibbs. After debuting with 2014’s “Piñata,” widely considered to be one of the best rap albums of the decade, he faced great pressure to produce an equally brilliant follow-up. During the tour following the album’s release, he was fired upon by an unidentified gunman who managed to injure two of his bodyguards. Upon its release in November 2015, his second album, “Shadow of a Doubt,” was met with a more subdued response than his debut. Finally, during a European tour in support of the album, he was arrested on allegations of sexual abuse and extradited to Austria. After standing trial, he was acquitted of all charges in September 2016.

Thus, it makes sense that Gibbs’s new album, “You Only Live 2wice,” sounds simultaneously like a status update and an airing of grievances. Clocking in at just over 30 minutes, it’s a brief blast of Midwestern trap featuring verses that, while boastful, also appear far more personal than those of his previous projects. The tracks “Crushed Glass,” “Dear Maria,” and “Homesick” in particular take an extremely introspective approach, describing the impact of his stay in jail following the abuse allegations, the effects of past relationships, and his changing ambitions. Each sees Gibbs masterfully weave moments of contemplation and storytelling into otherwise aggressive verses. But for those not intrigued by emotional expression, Gibbs is also quick to remind the listener that he’s one of the best old-school thug rappers working today; more hard-hitting tracks like “Alexys” and “Amnesia” contain some great street braggadocio and satisfying punchlines, and are only occasionally bogged down by excessive profanity.

The production on “You Only Live 2wice,” handled by a number of relatively popular names including BADBADNOTGOOD and Speakerbomb, is an interesting blend of trap and cloud rap that effectively balances the hostility of the former with the dreamy soundscapes of the latter. However, most of the album’s beats tend toward the repetitive, and on a number of tracks, end up playing second fiddle to Gibbs’s rapping. Tracks such as “Phone Lit,” on which Gibbs fails to salvage a bland beat with an interesting performance, prove to be this album’s biggest flaw. Although a little filler wouldn’t matter much on a normal rap album, it stands out like a sore thumb on an album that barely breaks the half-hour mark.

But overall, in spite of its length, “You Only Live 2wice” serves as a solid demonstration of Freddie Gibbs’s diverse microphone abilities, with some generally pleasant production to boot.

• Genre: Metal • Label: Reprise

Reprise Records

Emperor of Sand • Genre: Hip Hop/Rap • Label: ESGN

ESGN

You Only Live 2wice

Since their debut in 2002, Mastodon has remained one of the most talked-about metal bands in the mainstream psyche. From the beginning, their unique sound has fused the complexity and technical proficiency of progressive metal with the attitude and accessibility of power metal and hard rock, pleasing both fans and critics. Albums like 2004’s “Leviathan” and 2009’s “Crack the Skye” are regarded as some of the best metal albums of their time, with critics praising their conceptual ambition and instrumental precision. But more recent albums--2011’s “The Hunter” in particular--have shown a worrying predilection toward a more streamlined, stripped-back sound, polarizing fans of the band. Though many disappointed with “The Hunter” felt the group redeemed themselves with 2014’s “Once More ‘Round the Sun,” Mastodon’s newest release, “Emperor of Sand,” may jeopardize that notion.

“Emperor of Sand” attempts to balance the progressive elements of their early albums with more radio-friendly hard-rock structures, but ultimately comes off as a simplified pastiche of their most acclaimed works. In keeping with Mastodon tradition, the album follows a thematic storyline, but the intellectual creativity of the lyrics is wasted on a batch of decent, but uninspired, hard rock songs. At its best, on longer tracks such as “Roots Remain,” the album manages to achieve a relatively successful blend of progressive structure and accessible riffs. At its worst, on tracks such as the lead single, “Show Yourself,” the album recalls the dullest of late-90s alternative metal. This is not to say that the band can’t play; the rapid-fire guitar leads of the closing trio of songs demonstrate a wealth of technical virtuosity. But the problem lies in the songwriting; unfortunately, Mastodon has largely failed to mold its abundant skill into appealing melodies.

The production falls flat as well. Although the songs themselves aim for a spacey desert atmosphere, the final product feels thin and slightly muddy due to a more radio-ready approach to mixing. The percussion is pegged, while the guitars have been compressed into a single washed-out layer.

Is it the worst metal album of the year? Of course not. Mastodon have too much experience, too much talent, and too much personality to completely waste 50 minutes. But while it may please hardcore fans, it’s simply too underdeveloped and too smoothed-over to hold the interest of an outsider.

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Karli Beaumont, senior, says that soccer has always been a huge part of her life. Even though she has decided not to play in college, she takes the time to remember that some of her favorite memories were made because of her love for soccer and the amount of time she spends with her best friends playing the sport.

“Because it is my last season, I hope to make the most out of it, have a lot of fun, and make a lot of memories,” she said.

Soccer has always meant the world to Beaumont, and her hope, along with the other girls on the team, is to make it to states this year.

Brooke Burzynski, freshman, said, “I don’t know what I would be or who I would be if I didn’t play. Soccer has made me into who I am today.” She further explains that it has taught her how to be part of a team, be kind to others, have appreciation, and understand the concept of teamwork.

Carly Lane, sophomore, said, “[Soccer] is a sport that I have loved since I was four, and I’m always determined to get better at it; it gives me motivation and inspiritation to always work for what I want.”

Olivia Bolton, captain

“With the new coach, there weren’t any huge changes [to the team]. This season, I hope to accomplish getting to states and reaching our full potential at every game and practice! We have so much talent and chemistry in store to come for this season.”

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Go for

goal

Changes have been made for the better for the girls varsity soccer team by Paige Doerfler Pictures by Hailey Bullis

Megan Watts, sophomore, hopes to make first team all-region this year.

Similar to Lane, Watts has been playing soccer since she was four years old. She said, “I love the team. All the girls are really great; we have so much fun together. We are all really close.” To Megan, soccer is everything; it’s what she lives for.

Former head coach Steve Cassiday and former assistant coach Fernando Ramos changed things up this year, switching roles as coaches.

“Switching coaches really hasn’t had an effect on the team; Coach Ramos and Coach Cassiday are both fantastic coaches who are both trying to improve our level of play game by game, and the team, as a whole, gets the job done no matter who is coaching us,” said sophomore Carly Lane.

Freshman Brooke Burzynski, while she didn’t know what it was like to have Cassiday as the head coach, claims that Ramos is doing a fair job at coaching, proving to have a positive mentality and a real understanding of the game.

Karli Beaumont, senior, said, “switching head coaches hasn’t affected us as much as you’d

think it would. We still train hard and are successful, just as we were in previous years.”

The team itself is extremely close; most of the members having grown up playing soccer together. All in all, they seem to have come to a consensus for their hopes for this season.

“We have a lot of goals set for ourselves this year. The biggest goal we have set is to be state champions, or at least make it to the state tournament,” captain Jensen Margheim said.

Lane added, “There is no reason we can’t [make it to states] with the amount of talent we have on this team.”

Chemistry, one the biggest driving factors to their success, really pushes the team. This combined with new management is sure to set them on a path to accomplishing their goals.

Jensen Margheim, captain Soccer is everything to senior Jensen Margheim, captain of two years.

“Being captain these past two years has truly been an honor, although I feel that all the seniors are captains and leaders of the team.”

Margheim has been playing soccer since she was four years old, and has been on the varsity girls soccer team for her entire high school career.

“It has influenced all parts of my life... It challenges me and pushes me to work every day. It is my passion,” she said.

“We have started off this season pretty well, having only lost one game [as of April 12th],” which leaves the team with a record of 8-1.

The team has a mix of, not only upperclassmen, but quite a few underclassmen as well.

“Many of us [seniors] have been on the team since our freshman year, so we all know the expectations as seniors. We all push each other to be better and lead by example for the underclassmen.”

She continued, “they [underclassmen] have had a huge impact on our success. We seem to mesh really well as a team, which has made this season a lot of fun. It is great being able to play soccer with my best friends,” she said.

Margheim plans on continuing her soccer career at Indiana State University.

“Academically, I plan to major in Biology at ISU. I want to be a pediatric assistant,” she said.

She leaves in mid-July to begin preseason, and hopes to have an impact on the team as she works hard to earn a spot on the field. feature q april | may 2017 q the viewpoint q

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Education Renovation Stafford County is considering quarterly exams and an earlier first day of school by Leah Garza hange is scary. For most of us, after going through at least 10 years of the Stafford County Public School system, change sounds bittersweet. At this point, we know what to expect and when to wear our pajamas inside out and pray that enough snow falls to cancel midterms. But new county proposals could upend our expectations in future years, causing overall positive change that we should look forward to with immense hope.

As a senior, I will be unable to enjoy the upcoming changes, but speaking to the underclassmen: this is what you’ve been waiting for. An earlier start to the school year and the implementation of quarterly exams could be the answer to your prayers.

For those of you who take Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations at the end of the year, the late May/early June drag is all too familiar. After the conclusion of AP and IB tests around mid-May, school is all but over. And with an adjusted school year, it could be actually over.

If Stafford County decides to start school in late August and end school in late May or early June, the awkward time gap between standardized tests and graduation will cease to exist. As fun as movie days are at the end of the year, summer days would be much better spent out of school. And conversely, the extra time at the beginning of the year would be put to good use; teachers would have more time to prepare students for standardized tests in the May testing window.

Additionally, the new school year would better line up with the college school year, so graduated seniors would have a longer summer break before college and visiting college students would be more likely to be on break at the same time as their friends and family in the Stafford County Public School system.

Exams would also have much better timing with the new schedule. Midterms would be completed before winter break and while that timing greatly diminishes their likelihood of being snowed out, having midterms done before the holidays is a huge weight off our shoulders.

Timing is not the only change to exams that the county is considering. Stafford County is also considering quarterly exams, although this idea seems to be a bit more of a stretch. In this model, we would have four exams per class, either one per quarter for year-long classes or two per quarter for four by fours. While more exams initially sounds like a terrible idea, it is actually greatly beneficial for most students.

Those students, like myself, who get extremely overwhelmed by the idea of studying an entire semester’s worth of information to regurgitate on a test worth one-fifth of your semester grade will love this plan. Using year-long classes as an example, students would take an exam after the first nine weeks on only the material learned thus far and take a second exam after the second nine weeks on only the material learned after the first exam. Both exams averaged together would be one-fifth of your semester grade, but since there are two, if you bomb one, you have a chance for redemption and your semester grade isn’t tanked by one test.

Plus, you’re being tested on less material. This allows students to focus more on the actual material being taught so that learning is more in-depth and comprehensive and more geared towards understand instead of merely passing the exams.

Quarterly exams are also beneficial to those students who rely on exams to boost their semester grades. Students have two shots to test well and improve their abundantly important GPA. While Stafford County may reject both of these changes, accepting them would create a positive impact on the school environment, effectively silencing complaints about pointless time at the end of the school year and over-emphasized exams covering too much material.

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a real

The mystery behind many teenagers and what they have experienced or been through is compelling, especially being so young by Morgan Ocetnik

Henrik Anderson

Sarah Sabal

Junior Henrik Anderson was around 4 years old when he moved to London, England with his parents and younger brother and sister for his mom’s work.

At the time, he didn’t know what she did but he knew she worked for the government at the embassy. She worked there for about four and a half years before she went to Afghanistan for work and the rest of the family moved to the States.

Anderson explained he was very skeptical at first and was thinking that something bad might happen, but his mom reassured him that no harm would come to her. They didn’t see her for about six months. She was supposed to come home for Christmas, but she switched term leaves as a favor to a friend and came home before Christmas for a week.

Later in the month, the family went skiing for their dad’s birthday and Anderson explained that his dad was receiving a bunch of phone calls, but the kids didn’t know what was happening. He had a nagging feeling that something had happened to his mom, but his sister comforted and reassured him. His dad said they were going to a hotel to meet his mom’s coworkers. After waiting awhile in the lobby, two people he didn’t know took Anderson and his sister away and told them that their mom was dead. He said they explained that she was killed by an al Qaeda suicide bomber because she was a triple agent. In the months that followed, Anderson said that he found out his mom was an operative for the CIA, a chief of the base, putting a prominent target on her back.

Anderson said the weeks after were hard, but the worst was yet to come.

“It really hits you when you’re with your friends and they are complaining about their moms and how much they wish that their moms weren’t in their lives.

You wish that you could hit them and make them see how it felt. That’s when it hits you. Or it really hits you when you have a track meet and the only parent that will ever come for you is your dad. Then you start to think about all of the things you wish they could see you accomplish,” said Anderson.

At that point, he said he was getting accustomed to living with his dad, but then their relationship went downhill. At first he didn’t understand why, but as he matured he realized that parents have their own needs and while he had lost a mother, his father had lost the love of his life. Eventually, they worked out their issues together and their relationship improved.

“I’m happy I have really great friends to talk to about this right now. At the time I didn’t. It was hard on all of us really,” said Anderson.

Anderson said that when one loses family, it really shows how much of an impact they have on daily life: “I missed out on getting to complain about my mom; I wish someone would nag me about my room because my room is a disaster all the time.”

He said, “The first thing is you forget what her voice sounds like, and that’s the one thing you really want to hear.” Anderson copes by talking to her, praying, or talking to his good friends about it.

Sophomore Sarah Sabal was adopted as an orphan from China when she was 7 years old. She was abandoned at 3 years old and lived with two different foster families in China growing up. She said the orphanage was mostly girls because of China’s one-child policy, which led parents to favor sons over daughters. When she turned 7, a family adopted her and brought her to America to live with them.

“I didn’t know anything. I didn’t even know this country existed. I thought it was only China, and the East side that existed,” said Sabal.

She was curious and excited to see how America was. One of the first differences she noticed was how green everything was.

When Sabal began going to school, she explained that it was really tough for the first five years because she was trying to keep up with her Chinese and English at the same time.

She had a couple of complications in her relationships with students in her class and teachers. Sabal remembers kindergarten being difficult. It was hard for her to understand how Americans learn because in China, education is different; they grew up memorizing poems and translating old Chinese into modern Chinese. In second grade, she assimilated into the American education system and was moved up to fourth grade where she belonged. Sabal went to private school from first to second grade, but was bullied because she was older than everyone in her grade. This hurt her and increased her motivation to advance to fourth grade.

Sabal said when she thinks about herself and where she belongs, she considers herself more of an American: “I might visit China later in life, but this is my country,” she said. She thinks it’s better developed in most areas and America has better conditions, especially regarding the environment.

When Sabal is alone, she thinks about her biological family, wondering what they look like and why they abandoned her. She has always thought about the idea of meeting them, but doubts she ever will, especially if she knows nothing about them or the mental/physical state that they were in when they left her.

“I love my family; they treat me really well and even though they aren’t my biological family, they treat me like it,” said Sabal.

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life story Hayden Cibone Wiczalkowski Everette Senior Hayden Wiczalkowski grew up feeling confused and unsure about his identity The journey for him to figure how who he was began in kindergarten.

“I’ve always wanted to be a boy; since kindergarten I’ve never thought of myself as a girl,” said Wiczalkowski.

He explained that elementary school wasn’t terrible, but middle school was confusing.

He tried to hide what he was going through.

He was afraid of people’s assumptions; they considered him either a lesbian or a tomboy he thought. He was always afraid of being bullied if he was open about his identity so he kept it a secret. “I always cared about what everybody thought about me way too much,” said Wiczalkowski. He was always worried that if he told people they would judge him and he would have no friends and hate school. Seventh grade was when he began to fully understand the concept of what he was experiencing. He was on YouTube watching this video of a biological female explaining her transition to become male and found an explanation to his confusion. He told his parents soon after, and they were completely accepting and supportive. He also told a couple of his best friends, but kept quiet to everyone else until sophomore year when he posted a picture on Instagram explaining gender identity disorder and that in his mind he’s always thought he was a boy despite his biological sex. He said in the post that if people aren’t accepting of him, then they don’t have to be his friends. This past summer he decided to cut his hair and begin the transitioning. Last year he went to a children’s hospital to see a doctor to start the hormone therapy and saw a psychiatrist to receive his gender identity disorder diagnosis. This past October, he saw the psychiatrist, who signed off on his papers, followed by a visit to an endocrinologist.

Wiczalkowski recently received his first shot to begin his transition. He said there are people who aren’t very accepting and will call him names like “he/she” or call him an “it,” but he just ignores them. He’s never felt uncomfortable with his identity and the names and taunts now just roll off his shoulders.

His parents are very supportive and working on calling him by the correct pronouns, but he doesn’t get offended if people do call him Alyssa.

Another impact of his experience is anxiety. He was diagnosed with anxiety in sixth grade. It gradually faded away, but resurfaced last summer. He had panic attacks every day and didn’t want to do anything but lay in bed all day. He eventually overcame his anxiety when school started and served as a distraction to him. Despite the difficult road behind and before him, Wiczalkowski is glad he’s moving forward.

Senior Cibone Everette was in the car driving back from a dinner party with her family. It was rainy, and her mom was driving slow. Her dad became angry and grabbed the steering wheel, telling her mom to hurry up; she shouted, “You’re going to kill us,” and he said, “I don’t care. If I die, we can all die too.” Someone driving by called the police but after the situation was addressed, it was dropped.

Near the end of fifth grade, Everette’s parents were in the process of getting a divorce. Her dad had accused her mom of cheating, so he physically abused her, leaving her mom’s eyes black and bruised. Everette said the abuse was intense: “She used to walk us into school everyday but she didn’t want to anymore because she didn’t want anyone to see her.” They couldn’t see their dad for a year nor could they have any contact with him.

When the year was over, when Everette began sixth grade, she could see her father again. She saw him every other weekend, while her parents were still in the process of getting a divorce. They would have new family members staying with them often because they were worried their dad would come to the house one day with a violent purpose. Sometimes her dad would try to keep them longer than his designated time and the police would come to bring them home.

One day her dad was on his way home from a family member’s house when he saw her mom dropping them off at school. Afterwards her mom went to Chick-fil-a, and her dad saw her there. He drove around the parking lot while she was in the drive-thru and started shooting at the car. She tried to drive away but ended up hitting a parked car, giving him time to shoot at her again.

He then left and was gone by the time the police came, but the police caught up with him later.

A police officer brought the kids from school to the police station when they told them that their dad had shot and killed their mom. After the incident, Everette didn’t attend school for three months. The kids moved in with relatives.

A social worker was always at the house asking the kids questions and following them around.

Everette wouldn’t respond to the therapist who they were forced to see because everything had happened so fast. She explained that if they gave their family some time, she probably would have talked more.

By the beginning of high school, they had permanently moved in with other family members in Stafford. She said that it was a little awkward at first, staying with these families because it wasn’t the same; she had to acclimate to a new environment. She hasn’t seen her dad since the incident, but he does call from prison to catch up on their lives. She explained she is close with her aunt, but it will never be the same as how close she was with her mom. “Now everything that happens is not as big of deal for me so I think I handle situations better because of that situation,” said Everette. feature q april | may 2017 q the viewpoint q

13

The Effects of Depression Depression and anxiety can affect the education of students and the classroom setting. by Carissa Sepos

M

any teens have mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety which can have a major effect on their mental, physical, emotional, and academic performance.

According to teendepression.org, approximately 20 percent of teens reportedly have experienced depression before adulthood. Of these less than 33 percent actually seek help. However if they were to seek help 80 percent of teens can be successfully treated.

Most importantly these illnesses have a huge damaging effect on academics.

Kara Stansbury a counselor at MVHS, said that a common effect on academics was “a noticeable shift in grades.” Even though the student may not care during this negative point in their life, things may change and when they do it will be hard to make up those grades.

Depression/Anxiety also has a huge effect on attendance.

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When students miss a lot of school it can be very difficult to catch up again; it may also cause the student to be overwhelmed.

According to Joseph Goldberg, these effects on mental performances include: challenges with short-term memory, trouble thinking clearly and making decisions,difficulty paying attention, and slowed thinking.

Mental effects also show in thoughts of self harm or suicide.

Depression and anxiety may be mental disorders but the can have a huge effect physically. These can include eating disorders, stomach aches, cramps, constipation, or malnutrition. Also due to the elevated levels of stress, heart problems can occur over time.

These mental disorders have a colossal effect on your emotional health especially feelings of sadness, emptiness, hopelessness, or numbness. These

feelings are with you most of the day, every day which can cause loss of interest in things you used to enjoy. You may not like being around friends.

Depression and anxiety are very serious and dangerous problems and have many long-lasting negative effects. If you or someone you know is suffering, it is OK to get help. Don’t be afraid to talk to parents, teachers, or counselors.

If you or someone you know and/or love is in danger call the Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-2738255

one in ten Americans cannot afford their medication Center for disease control

one american dies every twelve minutes from lack of health insurance Mayoclinic

seven in ten Americans take prescription drugs

Name your price In a society where new medical discoveries are made every day, ordinary citizens still struggle to pay unjust pharmaceutical prices for the medicine that keeps them alive

by Ruby Jackson

Although huge improvements have been made in the treatments of diseases and chronic conditions, these remedies have not been made widely available to the standard citizen due to large drug companies’ monopolization of the market. In 2016, Truveris, a health company that tracks data of drug prices, found that branded drugs have increased in price by over 14 percent in the United States--a rate that is inconsistent with the rate of inflation. This includes many drugs like Doxycycline Hyclate, an antibiotic used for treating bacterial infections, and Sovaldi, a treatment for Hepatitis C. Price fixing, investigated by the Federal Trade Commision, is a “conspiracy between business competitors to set their prices to buy or sell goods or services at a certain price point,” according to FreeAdvice.

Bernie Sanders, a United States senator, said, “A lifesaving product does nobody any good if a patient cannot buy the medicine they need, and that is now happening far too often in the richest nation in the world.”

The United States Department of Justice is combating price fixing by holding investigations against companies suspected of it and offering victims avenues to seek civil recovery against said companies for injuries suffered. Companies found guilty of price fixing can face fines of up to 100 million dollars and up to ten years in prison.

Companies accused of price fixing include Teva, manufacturer of the EpiPen, and Eli Lilly, manufacturer of Humalog insulin. Proof has been found that both of these companies, who make life-saving medication, have been raising prices unjustly, with both drugs’ prices increasing over 300 percent over the past five years. Humalog, a drug needed to help manage diabetes, provides an artificial alternative to insulin because their body’s cells attack those that make insulin, which regulates the glucose in their bloodstream. Diabetics are forced to pay ridiculous prices, as high as $900 a month, because they need the drug in order to stay alive.

“It’s unethical and unfair for the patient. I think if you’re a pharmaceutical company your goal should be all about the patient but we all know that it’s not really [that way] because of money,” said RN Ligaya Fernandez.

The CEO of Eli Lilly, John C Lechleiter, reportedly has an annual income of over $16.5 million in 2015, while Erez Vigodman, CEO of Teva, has an annual income of over $5.5 million. The excess profits made by these companies are used to line their executives’ pockets--as opposed to conducting life-saving research--at the expense of the sick and disabled.

David Himmelstein, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School feature q april | may 2017 q the viewpoint q

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Life through the Glass Reading social cues is one of the most crucial skills to have in life. It helps you get a job, make friends, and fit in at social events and parties. For some people it comes naturally. But for others it can be a lot harder, especially if you have a social disorder that makes reading social cues extremely difficult.

Social disorders include nonverbal learning disorder, certain forms of ADHD and ADD, and avoidant personality disorder, just to name a few. People who have these disorders may initially come across as annoying, boisterous, or intrusive. But if you look closer, many are just struggling to find a way to fit in. Social cues aren’t clear to them and this makes everyday life a struggle.

As someone who has a social disorder, I know the hardships, as well as the benefits, of living with it. When I was 7 years old, I was diagnosed with nonverbal learning disorder. This is a learning disorder that makes subjects such as math hard for me. But it doesn’t just affect me academically. It impacts my everyday social interactions. I have a hard time reading facial expressions. I sometimes don’t understand sarcasm. I occasionally don’t get the give and take in conversation and usually talk too much when I’m with people.

Lacking these social skills growing up, I was given labels such as “annoying” and “stupid.” Making friends was very challenging. Having to deal with the struggles of growing up with a social disorder can be very tough, especially if you know you’re different in some way.

But there are some benefits. Even though my math skills are below average, my English skills are much above average and I am able to ace many of my English tests in under twenty minutes. With the help of my first grade teacher, I discovered my love for writing.

It was a therapeutic way to convert my feelings into stories. I wrote and it gave me confidence and comfort knowing there was something I could excel at.

Living with a social disorder can be like living a life

2q the viewpoint q april/may 2017 q opinion

on the other side of a glass. Those of us with social disorders see other kids interacting, but cannot transverse the glass to join the conversation. We see how friends light up when they see each other. We hear people talk about fun events or parties they will all be attending. A lot of us live on one side of the glass, wanting to be a part of the other side. We so badly want to be included, but sometimes we just can’t.

And still we continue trying to connect. But I think it’s time that kids without social disorders come to our side of the glass for a change. It’s time for those without social disorders to see our side so they can see how we think and what we experience.

They should see our perspective and our daily struggles with the interactions that most of them take for granted.

People with social disorders don’t need to be labeled. If someone has a social disorder, they shouldn’t hide behind it. One shouldn’t label themselves as “the kid with ADHD” or “the kid with Asperger Syndrome.” A disorder doesn’t define us; it’s just a part of who we are. We all still have personalities and senses of humor. We are all still people who want companionship and social interactions with the people around us.

If you come across someone in class who is socially awkward or doesn’t talk to anyone, I highly encourage you to get to know them and become their friend. Personally, I wouldn’t have all the amazing friends I have if they hadn’t talked to me first and showed interest in becoming my friend. And through your friendship, you could help someone with a social disorder interact with others. Show us the best ways to talk to people, help us step out of our comfort zone, but above all, let us show you our side of the glass. That way we can all become more open-minded and see what life is like for those around us.

opinion q april | may 2017 q the viewpointq

Helen Hazard

Some teens live with social disorders, struggling everyday to communicate and make friends by Charlotte Hazard

17

Reduce reuse recycle and restore

The environment is a part of our everyday life and we can help make sure it is thriving

by Lexi Strawder and Abbey Whitehead

Duck, North Carolina

Old rag, Virginia

What you can do Plant a tree

Simply planting a tree can create an ecosystem for animals, absorb carbon dioxide, and produce oxygen. Trees also reduce ozone levels in urban areas.

You can start now

Get involved locally

There are many things you can do right now to start helping the environment.

Some of which are; bringing your own bag when you go shopping can help ensure that no plastic bags get into our environment and the ecosystems around us, instead of using plastic utensils around your house replace them with reusable ones to go eco-friendly.

Get involved globally

Many times it is also easy to throw items in the trash that can actually be recycled. Some common recyclables that many people think can’t be recycled are batteries, crayons, cell phones, old shoes, make-up packaging, and Styrofoam.

You can get involved by going shopping at a farmers market, starting your own garden, or starting your own compost pile. You could also go to your local river and pick up litter, drive an eco-friendly car to reduce emissions, protect your forests against deforestation, or grow your food locally.

You can get involved globally by supporting regulations on power plant emissions, buy only from companies that don’t thrive on tropical deforestation, and raise awareness in developing countries about the impacts of deforestation. Don’t buy products made by companies that don’t follow regulations and have issues with pollution. You can also donate to organizations like Greenpeace to help make an impact all around the world. Greenpeace is working to save the Arctic, protect forests, protect our oceans, and promote sustainable agriculture.

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Common Misconceptions Get active

A good way to get active and make an impact on the environment is riding a bike on short trips instead of driving. Riding a bike can help to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. If you don’t have a bike you can also walk to help reduce emissions.

Why you should The environment is the natural world which billions of people live on. Everything from the air that we breathe and the trees that provide oxygen to the water that we desperately need and all of the animals make up our natural environment everywhere on earth.

It is obvious that over the years the environment has been impacted by the development of the human race. While there have been positive actions made towards preserving natural resources in the environment such as the “Clean Air Act,” which limits the amount of pollutants emitted in the air released by industries and chemical plants in the United States, we still have a great deal of smog and air pollution in the United States and all over the world.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Outdoor air pollution has grown eight percent globally in the past five years, with billions of people around the world now exposed to dangerous air, according to new data from more than 3,000 cities.” The areas that have affected the air quality the most are fast-growing cities in the Middle East,

southeast Asia and the western Pacific. According to Business Insider, in 2015 Delhi, India was considered to have the highest air pollution levels in the world.

Besides deforestation equivalent to more than half of New Delhi, the water quality is extremely poor and endless mountains of trash are found in communities and in the streets. Because of the extraordinary amount of air and water pollution in Delhi, people of all ages are getting very sick. According to “India Times,” “The study finds that increasing exposure and a growing and aging population have meant that India now rivals China for among the highest air pollution health burdens in the world, with both countries facing some 1.1 million early deaths from air pollution in 2015.”On a global aspect, according to “Dehli Air,” “In March 2014 the WHO reported that in 2012, seven million people died worldwide as a result of air pollution exposure. The finding more than doubled the WHO’s previous estimates on mortality due to air pollution exposure and placed air pollution as the world’s largest single environmental health risk.”

On a more local level here in the United States, Dan Greenbaum, president of the Health Effects Institute (HEI), an independent population health research center that publishes the annual Global Burden of Diseases, said, “The US has experienced a reduction of about 27 percent in average annual population exposures to fine particulate matter (PM) with smaller declines in Europe. Yet some 88,000 Americans and 258,000 Europeans still face increased risks of dying early due to PM levels today.” In other words, while there are actions put into place to regulate pollution levels in the United States, as well as parts of Europe, pollution is still a major issue that we need to bring attention to and act on it.

For the sake of everyone’s health and the future of the upcoming generations, it is our job to take care of the earth to protect wild places and preserve open spaces. The environment is home to 7 billion people on earth, not including the other billions of lives of aquatic and land animals and insects which depend on us to preserve their home too.

Grand Canyon, Arizona

“"The environment is important because its condition is completely controlled by us. We have the ability to destroy our environment or keep it strong."”

"I think that it is important to protect the environment because it is our home and it’s our responsibility to take care of it and preserve it for the future generations.".”

Anna Hinz, sophomore

Lauren Terrill, Spanish teacher

"I think the environment is important because it’s why life exists. If it wasn’t how it is today, earth would be extremely different.".

Shawn Long, junior feature q april | may 2017 q the viewpoint q 19

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shop till you

drop

As online shopping becomes increasingly prominent, shopping malls may become obsolete

A

by Emilee Holmquist cross the United States, consumers are resorting to online shopping instead of traditional methods, but the positive aspects of shopping at malls may outweigh the negative ones.

People are constantly ordering online, whether it’s clothes, furniture, or even groceries, proving the apparent ease of online shopping. According to a survey conducted by the United Parcel Service, consumers now make 51 percent of their purchases online, a rate that has grown over three percent in the past year.

With an increasing number of consumers turning to the Web to do their everyday shopping, malls are becoming more vacant, and many are beginning to close down. This is a wake-up call for many retail stores.

Many are experiencing sales slumps, and some of them, like Aeropostale, are even shutting down permanently. If you walk through any mall, no doubt you will find several vacant spots where stores have been shut down, resulting in a constant struggle to fill the vacancy.

According to NBC news, in the past six years more than two dozen shopping malls have been shuttered, with 60 more on the verge of disappearing. In addition, 15 percent of malls are expected to close their doors within the next decade.

Junior Amber Bushaw said, “[Shopping malls could be shut down completely] because [online shopping is] way more convenient, and it comes right to your house.” Bushaw is not the only one who acknowledges the ease that comes with online shopping.

Zoltan Szombathy, a junior, is attracted to shopping online as well.

He said, “I feel like online shopping is just a lot faster; you don’t have to go out, and you don’t have to take that extra money for gas or worry about parking.” Online shopping is a consumer’s go-to outlet; why take the time to go out and waste gas when you can just do it from home?

While statistics prove that malls are in danger of becoming obsolete, some argue that they are the way to go.

Freshman Delaney Gray said, “[Shopping malls won’t shut down] because a lot of people want to see what they’re buying in person.”

Although many still turn to malls for back-to-school shopping, holidays, and other special occasions, all of these daunting tasks can be done at home. Many teenagers have begun to turn away from traditional prom dress shopping and are instead ordering their dresses online. While there are risks to this option, such as buying something without being able to evaluate fit and quality in person, the advantages of seemingly endless options outweigh the risks.

Senior Morgan Wolf is among those who ordered their prom dresses in the comfort of their beds. Wolf said, “Because there aren’t many dress shops around here, my options are very limited, and so being able to order online definitely increases my options.”

Overall, the debate continues. The traditional shopping experience seems to be too embedded in American culture for malls to disappear anytime soon. feature q april | may 2017 q the viewpoint q

21

DIY's

Do it yourself

hair

health Dry hair Ingredients: 1 banana, 1 tbsp. of

Many people who do not want to spend money on expensive and extensive amounts of beauty products or just love being creative with crafts scavenge through Pinterest to find at-home “do-it-yourself ” remedies. The following are some examples of what you can do from the comfort of your own home

by Jenny Bullers

bathbombs 1 cup baking soda 1/2 cup citric acid 1/2 cup cornstarch

• • •

3 Tbsp. Epsom salt • 1 Tbsp. coconut oil • Witch hazel and a spray • bottle for it to go in

how to:

Peppermint essential oil Eucalyptus essential oil Green food coloring

First, add all of your dry ingredients (baking soda, citric acid, corn starch, and Epsom salt) into a bowl and mix them together. Add coconut oil to the mixture and blend by squishing it with your fingers. Do this until there aren’t any big clumps of coconut oil in the mixture. Put half of the mixture into a different bowl. Add peppermint essential oil to one bowl and eucalyptus essential oil to the other bowl. Don’t put too much of the oil in because both of these oils are fairly potent. If you are using an oil that isn’t 100% pure and is more of a fragrance oil, you can use about 10-15 drops of each oil. If your oil is pure oil, cut that amount in half. Add green food coloring to the mixture with eucalyptus. Use about 7-10 drops. Make sure to quickly mix the food coloring into your mixture or else it will start reacting to the moisture. Spray about 4 sprays of witch hazel into your mixture at a time and mix it. You want it to be slightly damp, but not completely wet. Only spray about 4 sprays of the witch hazel at a time, or your mixture will start reacting to it. Feel free to create whatever colorful design you want. Once your molds are full, put them in the freezer for about an hour. Carefully take the bombs out of the molds. You can use them right away, but if you are planning on packaging them up to give away, let them dry for a few more hours and wrap them in tin foil. This recipe is credited to McKenzie Guymon. To learn more about it, ask any questions, or find more DIY tutorials visit her website Girl Loves Glam.

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split ends tbsp. of olive oil

There are a plethora of bathbombs one could make; all you have to do is narrow down what fragrance you want to enjoy. They are a great way to take some time off from your hectic life and relax for a while.

• • •

First, take out the pulp of banana, mash it well and add in a tbsp of almond oil.

Then, blend it well and apply it on your hair right from the roots to the tip. Leave it on your hair for 30 minutes and then wash your hair.

Ingredients: 2 tbsp. of yogurt, 1

cold and sinus relief

Ingredients:

almond oil

First, combine all of the ingredients together. Massage the solution into your hair evenly, from the scalp to the ends. Leave the mask on for 15-20 minutes. Just a small amount of conditioner will do when you wash your hair. Do this treatment once a week to restore and maintain your hair.

damaged hair Ingredients: egg, essential oil First, beat an egg along with a few drops of essential oil. Apply it from the root to the tip of your hair, cover it with a shower cap, and leave it on for at least an hour.

Then rinse it off with a mild shampoo and follow it with a conditioner.

oily hair Ingredients: 1 tbsp. of lemon juice, 1 tbsp. of honey

Oily hair is always a pain, making your hair look limp and messy, but we have a great hair mask that will solve your issue.

Whisk the honey and fresh lemon juice.

Apply this mask on your hair and let it sit for half an hour. Then, wash it off your hair.

Soothing oatmeal mask

FAce Masks

Ingredients: •1/2 cup of hot water •1/3 cup of instant oatmeal •1 tbsp. of honey

All teenagers know the struggle of acne during these stressful high school years. Girls will try to cover up with makeup galore, but it never truly gives you enough confidence, and sadly for boys, society doesn’t encourage makeup as a cover-up option. Dermatologist-prescribed medications can be expensive, leaving teenagers with no other options. However, there are natural ways to improve your skin, whether it be troubled by acne or razor burn. Facemasks are an inexpensive and healthy way to experiment with what works for your skin. They are also a good opportunity to take a break from hectic student life and simply relax. Not all facemask formulas work for everyone, so sampling a few may be a good idea.

teeth whitening Ingredients:

•3 tsp. of baking soda •2 tsp. of lemon juice •q-tip or cotton swab

How to:

First, mix 3 tsp. of baking soda with 2 tsp. of lemon juice. Then, using a Q-Tip or cotton swab gently apply to your teeth; do not scrub. After about 30 seconds, thoroughly rinse using water then brush your teeth as you normally would. Repeat this process once or twice every 2-3 weeks for 6 weeks.

“It is really interesting how you can make something from every day household items that can help your skin, nails, hair, or whatever you are looking to improve. Even if you are just looking to relax for a while the DIY's help,” said junior Oscar Alvarenga.

Nail health Strengthener

•1-2 tbsp. of plain, unsweetened yogurt

how to:

Add the water to the oatmeal and stir for a few minutes until it’s plumped up nicely. Add the honey and yogurt and mix the ingredients in a blender to smooth and combine them. Slather this all over your face, leave on for 10 minutes or so, and then wash with warm water. Pat dry. *Note: this mask can also be used on eczema patches on other parts of your body, such as inner arms, the backs of your knees, your neck, etc.

For areas other than your face, you can leave the treatment on for a bit longer before washing it off.

Soothing manly mask Ingredients: •1/2 a cucumber, peeled and chopped •1 tbsp. full-fat Greek yogurt

how to:

Put the cucumber through any type of food processor until it is pulpy or simply mash it.

Then, mix the Greek yogurt in by hand. Apply the mask evenly over your face and leave it on for 10-15 minutes. After, rinse your face with warm water and pat dry. This mask is great for guys with sensitive skin from razor burn. The yogurt and cucumber act as moisturizers and soothers, lessening redness caused by dry skin and shaving.

how to:

Ingredients:

•1/4 cup olive oil •1 tbsp. honey •1 tbsp. lemon juice

•1 tsp. sea salt •Medium-sized heatproof bowl and spoon

Pour the olive oil, honey, salt, and lemon juice in a heatproof bowl and mix them up. Get a pan and add a couple inches of water into it and place it on the stove over a medium-low flame.

Place the bowl on top of the pan and let the nail strengthener solution slowly warm up. Make sure the water level is very low so that it doesn’t enter the bowl. Once it’s warm enough, remove from heat. Dip both your hands in (nail first) into the nail strengthening solution. Soak them for 10-15 minutes. When the time is up, scrub your nails with soapy water and a nail brush for 2 minutes. Repeat once a week. If your nails are especially weak, you can do this 2 times a week. feature q april | may 2017 q the viewpoint q

23

se17ior Legacy

How will the graduating class of 2017 effect our high school’s sports programs, and what upcoming players will step up to fill their shoes? By Chloe Reid Photos provided by Lifetouch

With 27 different sports programs, the high school is filled with athletes and every year varsity level programs suffer from the loss of senior players.

The field hockey team was very successful this past season, becoming the state champions, but will they be able to do this again next year after the loss of 6 seniors who made a big impact on this past season? Out of the six graduating seniors five were starters. Lily Bryngelson, a senior from the field hockey team, said, “ I don’t think they’ll be affected all that badly because we had a couple of freshman come up this year and they’re all pretty good so I think they’ll still be strong next year.” Bryngelson says that freshmen Elizabeth Ranberger along with juniors Madison “Cookie” Hatcher and Maggie Hubert will all step up next season to help be leaders.

With eight seniors graduating this year on the boys lacrosse team, senior Austin Cole said almost all of them are starters. Cole also said, “There’s a lot of young talent so I think we’ll be pretty good next year but what will definitely hurt them is the leadership role.” Along with the leadership role, Cole states that defense will be the most affected position. Upcoming talent, mentioned by Cole, that will help will the leaving senior’s shoes are sophmore Zach Fernow and junior David Vanhorn.

Senior Ahmad Tweedy, the quarterback from the football team, said, “I think they’ll be okay because they have a good coach, and because the younger players have seen what the seniors have done.” The upcoming player that Tweedy mentioned was sophomore Tyler Haskins, who will be the quarterback next year for the team. With 24 seniors graduating this year, Tweedy is hopeful about the program next year.

The girls soccer team has a total of 10 seniors, and from those 10 about six are starters, senior Jensen Margheim explained. he said, “ I definitely think it hurts losing that many upperclassmen all at once, but we actually have a very strong underclassmen group of players. I think they’ll do just as well if not better after we leave.” junior Karina Vasquez was one of the players Margheim feels will help to fill the senior’s shoes, and a part of the strong group of underclassmen players is freshman Megan Debernard who is “very strong and having a year under her belt will definitely help her next year,” Margheim said.

With 7 out of 12 players being graduating seniors, the girls basketball team will be losing more than half of its team. As one of the seniors leaving, Cheyenne Suamataoa-Teo said that the team will be losing some of its leadership. She said,“Someone will have to step up to get everybody ready and focused during practice, because that is usually what Hannah Kenkel did, and as of intensity they need someone to bring intensity, and I feel like that was more my role.” Sophomore Maggie Sharps, junior Kiana Collins, and junior Mya Tino were all players that Suamataoa-Teo brought up when asked about younger talent.

It does hurt to lose seniors, but with young talent and a strong program, the teams will be just fine.

Other worries were mentioned about the leadership roles, and the need for players to step up to take those shoes. Looking ahead to the 2017-1018 sports season we’ll have to wait and see what will unfold.

24 q

the viewpoint q april | may 2017 q feature